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Austin 🇺🇸
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Barcelona 🇪🇸
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Mexico City 🇲🇽
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Playa del Carmen 🇲🇽
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| Population | 926,426 | 5,585,556 | 8,850,000 | 259,453 |
| Official language(s) | English (de facto) | Catalan, Spanish | Spanish | Spanish |
| Level of English | Very high | High | Moderate | Moderate |
| Main airport | Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) | Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN) | Mexico City International Airport (MEX) | Cancun International Airport (CUN) |
| Most common months to visit | March - May, September - November | April - June, September - November | March - May, October, November | January - May, October - December |
| Currency | USD - US Dollar ($) | EUR - Euro (€) | MXN - Mexican Peso ($) | MXN - Mexican Peso ($) |
| Credit cards | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted almost evewhere | Widely accepted (less with AMEX) | Accepted almost everywhere |
| Remote worker visa | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Average monthly costs | $3484 | $2384 | $1867 | $2143 |
| Rent | $1650 | $932 | $778 | $923 |
| Groceries | $243 | $121 | $281 | $127 |
| Dining out | $396 | $403 | $182 | $207 |
| Cafe | $66 | $45 | $49 | $42 |
| Coworking space | $331 | $213 | $159 | $160 |
| Mobile internet | $40 | $10 | $25 | $21 |
| Public transportation | $110 | $127 | $11 | $17 |
| Taxis | $73 | $48 | $9 | $9 |
| Shared bicycles and scooters | $96 | $24 | $24 | $49 |
| Sport and cultural events | $54 | $81 | $81 | $97 |
| Museums and sights | $11 | $33 | $20 | $217 |
| Nightlife | $124 | $112 | $64 | $77 |
| Gym | $62 | $81 | $69 | $42 |
| Yoga | $139 | $93 | $65 | $54 |
| Massage | $89 | $59 | $51 | $101 |
| SIM card options | AT&T, T-Mobile. | Vodafone, Movistar | Telcel, Movistar | Telcel, Movistar |
| Tipping | 15-20% at restaurants, 1USD or more per drink at cafes and bars | 5-10% in restaurants if service is exceptional, not expected elsewhere | 10-15% for restaurants, bars and services | 10-15% for restaurants |
| Taxi apps | Uber, Lyft | Cabify, FreeNow | Uber | N/A |
| Tap water | Drinkable | Drinkable | Not drinkable | Not drinkable |
| Overall cuisine | Emphasis on barbecued meats (beef and pork) as well as corn-based dishes and tex-mex, and rich American-style desserts. | Catalan cuisine makes extensive use of Mediterranean vegetables, legumes mixed with pork in its many varieties, chicken and fish. Regularly mixes sweet and savory flavors in specific dishes. This cuisine is known for being bold in flavor and striking in color, with a variety of specific regional dishes found the culinary hub that is Barcelona. | Corn, beans, tortillas and chili peppers typically alongside meat and cheese | Staple dishes from maize, beans, sweet potato and avocado along with meat, chili peppers and other spices |
| Local food specialities | Frito pie, queso, apple pie, kolaches, BBQ ribs, tacos | Paella, bombas, esqueixada, pa amb tomáquet, escalivada, crema Catalana, gazpacho, chorizo | Enchiladas, torta de chilaquiles, esquites, quesadillas, tlacoyos, tacos, tostadas | Chilaquiles, tacos al pastor, chile rellenos, cochinita pibil, tostadas, pozole |
| Eat like a local | Local tex-mex restaurants, lunch BBQ joints, taquerias, food trucks, local breweries | Taverns, tapas bars, local markets, bodegas and street food spots | Markets, food stalls, menú del día (cheap set lunch menus) | Taco stands, esquite stalls, El Fogon, El Pirata, Dona Mary's |
| Vegetarian / vegan options | 30 options on HappyCow | 98 options on HappyCow | 279 listings on Happy Cow | 72 listings on Happy Cow |